Sealing strip



, present application my cio-pending Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.260.129 sEALiNG s'rmr Briggs Mich..

Mich., assigner to Company, Detroit,

Application May 10, 1939, Serial N'. 272,866

7 Claims- (Cl. 296-44) for effecting a relatively tight closure along the bottoms of doors of motor vehicle bodies. The

application Serial No. 1381711,

is a continuation-impart ofV filed April 24, 1937, Patent No. 2,158,808, May 16,

An object of the invention is to pensive and effective sealing means vfor the or space between the lower or bottom portion of the vehicle body door and the adjacent vehicle body frame or iioor sill. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide novel-*sealing means capable of being attached directly to a frame member of the vehicle body.

Another lobject is to providey flexible sealing means capable of sealing spaces of varying depths so as to compensate for variations inthe tting'of the doors.

A further object provide inexof the invention is to provide sealing means of the foregoing character capable of providing, in effect, la recess or pocket for re, celving the edge of the floor covering adjacent the sill of the vehicle lfloor and maintaining said covering in smooth condition at the dooropening of the body.

Another object of ilexible sealing means of the foregoing character having relatively rigid or stili reinforcing means for attaching the sealing element body.

A further object of A improved sealing means for the joint or space between the lower portion of a vehicle door and the adjacent portion of the vehicle body which is of composite construction capable of being removably attached to the body.

Another object is to provide a device for-sealing the joint between the lower `end oi'the'vehicle door in which the device comprises a relatively stiif though iiexible .rubber sealing strip and a metallic supporting 45 and attaching member for the strip. v

A further object is to provide a sealing device of composite structure in-which the supporting and attaching member for the ileiible sealing strip also provides a scuII plate for the door sill or similar member of the vehicle'body. v

A further object of the present invention is to provide composite sealing means of the foregoing character in which the several parts thereof may be easily and quickly assembled and applied to the vehicle body.

the invention is to provide.

to the vehicle the invention is' to provide joint a vehicle body member and 'an upholstered of this specication wherein like reference charv.actors designate corresponding parts in the'sev-- eral views.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation equipped with sealing means the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with the door in fully closed position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the vehicle door at its initial point of contact with' the sealing means.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sealingsmeans or strip of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showin'gal somewhat modiiled form of sealing means emof an automobile in accordance with bodylng the invention, withl the door in fully the vehicle door at itsinitial point of contact y with the sealing means.

Before explaining in detail the present invention itvis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of partsr illustratedin the accompanying drawing, since the vinverition ,iscapable of otherembodiments and `of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it .is-'to be understood thatthe phraseolog'y or terminology employed herein is for the'purposeof description and not of limitation, is not intended to limit the 'invention claimed herein beyond the requirements ,of the prior art.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2, 3 'and' 4 of the drawing, wherein one form of sealing means embodying the present inventionis shown, III represents a longitudinal body frame member provided with a substantially-horizontal inwardly directed iiange II` overlying the floor member or plate I2. The oor, in the present instance, is

formed of metal and is provided with a conventional covering I3. 'I'he vertical legv or web of the member i0, as shown, is provided at predetermined spaced points with holes I4 adapted to receive screws I5, as hereinafter lreferred to. The door inthe present instance is shown as a whole at I6 and has an outer panel Il and an inner panel I8 provided with a lower extension I9 and finish sheet o r Atrim panel 20. In

and it the present instance. the sealing means or de.- vice is preferably in the form of a strip of elastic or resilient rubber material which is relatively flexible. It comprises, as shown, a body portion.

2| having an upwardly and inwardly curved flange or portion 22, the body and flange being reinforced by a similarly shaped metal strip Ior plate 23 which is embedded therein. The body portion 2| of the sealing strip has an outwardlyl der compression, see Fig. 2, with the portion 26 being pressed into intimateengagement with the adjacent portion of the frame member oz' sill I0 so as to close the space 9 between the door I6 and the frame member.

The sealing strip of Fig. 2 is attached to the body frame member I 0 by means of the screws I5 which pass through holes 2l (see Fig. 4) formed in the body portion of the rubber strip and in the reinforcing metal strip or plate 23, thence passing through the holes I4 formed in the member I0. When thus installed, the por tions 25 and 26 are flexed out slightly so as to be held under tension snugly against the sill when the door is in open position, or when the door is in the position in which it is shown in Fig;

3, namely at its initial point of contact with the sealing means. 'Ihe upper inwardly curved reinforced end 22 of the sealing strip or device overlies and engages the floor covering I3, thus profviding 'with the iiange Ii, a recess or pocket for receiving the edge of said floor covering and maintaining it in smooth condition at the door opening of the body. W'hen the door I6 is in closed position as seen in Fig. 2, ingress of air and moisture into the body of the vehicle is prevented.

In Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a somewhat modified form of composite sealing means or device embodying the present invention. In this form thesealing member or'strip, shown as a whole at 30, comprises a body portion 3|, an out# wardly and downwardly flared sealing portion 32 and an integral inwardly and downwardly ared portion or extension 33 terminating in a lip or edge portion 34. As in the preceding form of the invention, the portion 32 of the stripY is somewhat stiier than the portions 33 and 34 thereof to provide a set convex portion, bulge or protuberance which, when engaged by the portion I9 o f the door, is flattened and pressed under compression, see Fig. 5 with the portion 35 of the strip adjacent thel lip 34 being pressed into intimate engagement with the adjacent portion of the frame member or sill I 0 so as to seal the space 8 between the door and the'adjacent frame member I0.

The sealing device of the present form of the invention also comprises a metallic substantially U-shaped or channel-like metal strip, shown as a whole at 40.'. The member 40 comprises a back wall 4I, a. base portion 42 and a front wall 43. The back or inner wall 4| is extended upwardly at 44 and terminates in a crown-shaped bead or retainer portion 45 forming in eil'ect a scui plate. Tl'ie wall extension 44 is flanged or bent outwardly at 46 so as to provide an overhanging portion above the socket or pocket provided between the front or outer wall 43 andthe inner or back wall 4 I. The ilange 43 and the free edge 41 of the portion 45 to- .gether provide means for receiving and -supporting the inturned flanges 5| and52 of a crowned finish .plate or member shown as a whole at 50. This finish plate may bechromium plated or lacquered and serves to provide an ornamental seuil? plate or strip which extends throughout the Width of the door opening in the body. The finishv strip 5 0 may be'applied to the crowned portion 45 of the sealing device by telescoping it over. the portion 45, or the ange 5I may be hooked over the flange 46 and the other` flange snapped into place over4 the free edge 41 ofthe crowned member 45 so as to hold the parts together.

In assembling the device the body portion 3| of the sealing strip proper is inserted in the socket or pocket formed between the walls 4I and 43 of the metallic supporting and attaching member. It will be noted that the body portion 3| is enlarged to fit snugly within the space adjacent the extent-ion 44 of the metallic member. After the rubber body portion 3| has been assembled vwith the metal supporting member, screws 53 are passed through aligned holes in the walls 43 and 4| and into holes or openings formed in the frame member or sill I0 to lock the rubber portion of the sealing device in'place and to secure the whole device to the face of the frame member. When applied to the car body it will be seen that the crowned portions 45, 50, overlie and engage the floor covering I3, thus providing with the ange II, a recess or pocket for receiving the edge of the floor covering and maintaining it in smooth "condition at the door opening of the body. As inthe previous formrof the invention, when the door is closed as seen in Fig. 5, ingress of air and moisture into the body of the vehicle is prevented.

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated the position of the parts when the door portion I9 is at its initial point of contact with the sealing member 30. In this position it will be seen that the lip portion 34 of the sealing device is in intimate contact with the adjacent face of the frame Imember I 0.

If desired, the front wall 4.3 of the supporting andy attaching portion of the sealing means may be provided at spaced points with 'tongues or lugs struck inwardly from the metal of the wall and which embed themselves in the body portion 3| of the rubber strip to assist in maintaining the rubber strip in place. f

It will be understood that the metal of the retaining and supporting device is of a character having sufilcient ilexibility to permit the front Awall 43 ,thereof to be bent outwardly to receive the body portion of therubber strip and which will then assume the shape or form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 upon the application of the attaching screws 53.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle body havinga i'loor, iioor covering, a sill and a door, a 'sealing strip formed of yieldable material having a body portion provided therein with a metal reinforcing strip, said body having an upright lportion secured to the upright outer face of the sill and an inwardly curved upper end portion overlying the sill and spaced therefrom to receive therebetween the edge of the iloor covering, and a flexible sealing portion projecting outwardly fromsaid upright body portion and curved downwardly and inwardly toward said sill, said sealing portion engaged by the door and compressed'between the door and sill when said door is in closed position;

L2. In a vehicle body having a oor, floor covering, a sill and a door, a sealing strip formed'of yieldable material having a body portion provided therein with a metal reinforcing strip, said body having an upright portion secured to the upright outer face of the sill and an inwardly curved upper end portion overlying the-sill and spaced therefrom to receive therebetween the edge of the floor covering, a flexible sealing portion projecting outwardlyl from said upright body portion 'and curved downwardly and .inwardly toward said sill, said sealing portion engaged rby the door and compressed between the door and sill when said door is in closed position, and' means for attaching the sealing strip to the body sill.

3. A rubber sealing strip for sealing the joint between a vehicle body sill and door, comprising i a substantially vertical body portion, a reinforcing metal strip embedded in said body` portion and providing means for attaching the sealing strip to an upright portion .of a body sill, and a flexible sealing portion integral with and projecting from said body portion, said metal strip at its upper end being extended laterally to provide a portion adapted to overlie a floor coverling.

4. In a vehicle body having a floor, floor cover` ing, a sill and a door, a `sealing strip formed ofv 5. The combination with a vehicle body having a floor, floor covering, a sill and a door, of a sealing strip formed of compressible material having a body portion provided .with a metal reinforcing strip embedded therein, said body having an upright portion secured to the upright outer face of the sill and an inwardly curved upper end portion overlying the sill and spaced therefrom to receive therebetween the edge of the floor covering, a flexible sealing portion projecting outwardly from said upright body portion and curved downwardly and inwardly toward said sill, said sealing portion being -engaged by the door and compressed between the door and sill when 'said door is in closed position, and means for attaching the sealing strip to the body sill.

6. Means for sealing the joint between a vehicle body frame portion and a door, comprising an elongated rubber sealing strip having a body portion, an outwardly and downwardly flaring porf tion, a exible sealing portion integral with and projecting inwardly and downwardly from said last named portion and terminating in a lip, and an elongated metal member embedded in said sealing strip and providing means for attaching the strip to the body frame portion, said -metal member having a crowned portion adaptedl to overlie the body frame portion when the strip is attached tosaid frame.

7. `A vehicle body scuff or sill plate comprising va metallic member having a flange adapted to be disposed generally horizontally in a door opening so as to overlie the sill and also having a depending flange integral with the aforesaid flange and a resilient door sealing strip having a portion coextensive with said metallic member, the

latter being embedded in said sealing strip and the sealing strip having an outwardly and downwardly flaring portion adapted to be engaged by a door.

EDWARD A. WETZEL. 

